Color Trend: Blue Mood That Makes Me Happy

There is a subtle change in the way the design industry is using blue, but I'm taking notice, and me likey. It's dark, indigo, and mixed with black. It's being used in traditional and in contemporary settings alike, and it is not the typical "nautical" look we've all come to gag on. Just keep your eyes open....I think we just found the new "black".

This is the living room from the San Francisco's Elle Decor Showhouse. These wing chairs from Restoration Hardware are such a deep blue, they appear black.

The custom wallcovering in the dining room of the San Francisco Elle Decor Showhouse is a rich blue. In the shadows it appears like midnight.

This interior, designed by Steven Volpe, uses a military blue for the drapes in addition to the velvet sofa and rug.

Designer Iain Halliday grounds this space with a deep navy carpet from Beauvais Carpets. It's unexpected with a color palette of grays and leaf green and coral accents but it looks amazing.

The design team Kirsten-Kelli,  mixed black ebony wood stair-railing with the gorgeous dark blue pinstriped carpet runner. 

This is another example of the work of Kirsten Kelli. The ceiling has been treated with  a textural print inset into a coffered ceiling, finished in ebony.

Painting a dark navy has always been popular, but usually used as a backdrop for a Ralph Lauren Hunting lodge, or perhaps as an accent in a seaside home. Now it's being mixed in contemporary and modern interiors as well, and the combination of vintage pieces and sleek modern with the rich intoxicating color is anything but depressing.

This kitchen, designed by Windsor Smith, has slate blue cabinets, almost black. I love the mix of traditional elements and modern finishes....this interior will really transcend time. The white of the floors and ceiling combined with natural light coming through the windows make this kitchen bright and airy despite the darkness of the cabinet color.

I also see this trend in textiles accessories and other decor. From wovens and linens and the explosion in the past year of ethnic printed fabrics like the popular ikats have not excluded this blue black color.

Restoration new color palette for their outdoor collection features this midnight blue from Perennials, a high end outdoor fabric company.

This pillow, with a suzani style print is available at Williams Sonoma Home.

This fabric is from Michael Devine, who is known for his beautiful textured hand-screened prints. This particular pattern is petite fleur on white, color indigo. 

Kravet has a linen, Plugged In, in color Shale that lots of texture and can be used in a lot of different applications.

John Robshaw Textiles has a vast array of indigo inspired  woven textiles and bedding like these above and below.

Upholstered furniture have also been influenced by this trend. Take the following chairs that have a mix of deep indigo blue and black.

This Grafton Chair featured above in front of a wall of green, is from Anthropologie, and features an unfinished oak with a woven denim herringbone pattern....such a cool design mixed with the ultimate traditional frame.

This sofa is now featured at Room and Board in this dark deep blue....the new black, eh?

Neiman Marcus shows this very traditional chair again, with an ebony stain and dark indigo and white stripes.

This midnight blue is also popping up in lighting and accessories too.

The Zenith Chandelier from Baccarat, at a hefty $37000 is made with indigo colored glass and dark deniim shades. Totally different.

Jonathon Adler, the designer who boasts about "happy chic" loves midnight blue. His Nelson table lamp, his take off of the original Nelson bubble lamp offers a midnight blue finish.

Here is another example of Jonathan Adler's infusion of this deep blue, in his line of outdoor dinnerware. Instead of using the usual black and white zebra print, he blended the indigo and it looks fabulous.

So, keep your eyes open for indigo.....I'm IN and I DIG it.

Tiff's Charlotte Discoveries: B.D. Jeffries

Okay...maybe I should call it "Find of the Month" since I have been a little out of the blogging scene lately. I took a little hiatus but I am slowly getting back to design. The latest store that I have felt is post-worthy is a shop in Southpark called B.D. Jeffries. I love this store, and can't wait to get back there and look again.

This store is a second location for B.D.Jeffries. The first being in Atlanta, Georgia. The merchandise is a mix of high end casegoods and upholstered pieces, tons of tableware and accessories, a great selection of design books and even some women's and men's fashion accessories. The style is a nice mix of antique pieces from all over Europe in addition to some more streamlined pieces and transitional design. I think anyone could walk in and find something to furnish their home in here. (Maybe not ultra ultra modern, yet a hurricane could be placed anywhere right?)

I really love how the store was designed and merchandised. As one walks through the doors, the first room is like a cozy sun-room or portico, beautifully painted and serene. I love the detailed niches on the walls. You don't feel  like you are in a shopping center, even a high end one. I really felt like I was back in Malibu. The next few steps in, one reaches the body of the store. High ceilings painted a dark black or brown give real height to the space, and architecturally placed trusses, with an old world feel,  move throughout the showroom separating each set up.

One side of the room has primarily tableware displays, gorgeous plates for reasonable prices (in my opinion). There are a lot of extra accessories for entertaining.

I also love how they interspersed design books within the space as well. It really makes you want to pick each one up and read them on the spot. If you are looking for table set up ideas or at least finding the right napkins or holder, there is a special vestibule just for this.

While moving into the back portion of the space, the design morphs into a English Hunting Lodge of sorts, packed with gorgeous artwork, masculline accessories and a beautiful fireplace (not working, but gives you the effect).

A clever storage space in the wall reveals men's belts. I thought this was a genius idea.

There was even a section set aside for your favorite pooch. And, if you are a collector of cuff links, they had a whole case of them.

Circling my way back around to the front of the store, I found another set up, to me resembling the beachy showrooms I mentioned that reminded me of Malibu. Warm and creamy, relaxed but chic with another beautiful fireplace setting. There were cubbies with additional decor items, pillows and frames.

Of course, I always find something I can't leave without.  I fell in love with these Karakusa dishware. Karakusa means winding vine or grass in Japanese. I love the color, their organic shape and the brown rim of these ceramic bowls and plates. Best of all, they are really quite affordable. I am sorry to say I did refrain myself from purchasing these beauties, but they have been put on the wish list!

Overall, this design boutique is a winner in my point of view. They also can provide interior design services, so this is a one stop shop for the busy consumer who wants it all done in one place. The manager mentioned they will provide tear sheets as well for many of their case goods and upholstered pieces. They also said that the store will be on Facebook soon, so all the updates on the store will be at your fingertips. Located in the Morrison shopping center, this showroom should be on your next "to do" list.